LCM Berlin international training course

The time has come for future class. Something very special will be happening in Berlin from the 15^th-21^st of March 2013.  

We will be running a training course for motivated members of NGOs operating in Egypt, Germany, Israel, Palestine, Slovenia, and the United Kingdom (36 altogether) the opportunity to learn, discuss, share experiences and practice the creative methods of Loesje; creative text writing, poster selection and lay out. We will practically work with the Human Rights ‘Freedom of Speech’ and ‘Freedom of Expression’, and stimulate intercultural dialogue. 

 

The unique and inspiring learning forum will start with the group getting to know each other. There has already been some great chat on the group Facebook page – where participants have been introducing themselves and their countries to the other groups. From there, the groups will have some guided tours round Berlin related to the themes of the training.

The majority of the course will take place at The Kurt Löwenstein Haus (KLH), located about 30 km outside Berlin. KLH is an educational centre for youth educational seminars and youth summer camps. The large house has all the facilities we will need – and even a forest nearby for walks.

At KLH all the different groups will take part in a Loesje poster-writing activity, and also have space to introduce their countries and discuss the Freedom of Speech situation in their countries. After this, the participants will build their abilities and confidence in how to deliver a Loesje poster-writing activity themselves.  

Following this training course in Berlin, the participants will work together on conducting Loesje workshops and producing exhibitions, aimed at furthering the goals of Loesje and their respective NGOs in their home countries. It will be fantastic to see how each of these 36 participants develops their ideas over their time in Berlin and when they get back to their own countries – and how they spread their inspiration.

The participants have been recruited over the winter by the partner organisations involved. Association for Culture and Education PiNA from Slovenia,  Loesje e.V. from Germany, Juzoor from Palestine, One Voice from Israel, Xchange Scotland from Scotland and Development NO Borders from Egypt.

Call for Participants: Training course“Today history class cancelled – time for future class”

CALL for Participants

Training course:

 

“Today history class cancelled – time for future class”

A part of the project: “Loesje crosses the Mediterranean”

Training dates: 15^th – 21^st of March 2013 (including travel days)

Location: Berlin, Germany

  

Care about encouraging dialogue, diversity, development and democracy? 

• Want to learn an innovative method for expressing your values and yourself, which is used already in over 30 countries around the world? 
• Curious to meet interesting people from different cultures across the Mediterranean?

Here is your chance!

We are offering six motivated members of NGOs operating in Egypt, Germany, Israel, Palestine, Slovenia, and the United Kingdom (36 altogether) the opportunity to learn, discuss, share experiences and practice the creative methods of Loesje; creative text writing, poster selection and lay out. We will practically work with the Human Rights ‘Freedom of Speech’ and ‘Freedom of Expression’, and stimulate intercultural dialogue.

Following the training course, the participants will work together on conducting Loesje workshops and producing exhibitions, aimed at furthering the goals of Loesje and their respective NGOs in their home countries.  

Aims of the training course:

The participants of the training will:

• learn and increase their respect for human rights, religious tolerance and the acceptance of diversity, 
• be able to form, discuss and express their opinions,
• learn to take responsibility for personal actions,
• work with others to achieve a common goal, 
• promote the dialogue and strive for consensus,
• build their confidence along with the ability to change society, 
• gain innovative and interactive tools for expression and active participation,
• get involved in a local youth organization with positive values and non-violent approach, 
• get to know Loesje text writing warm-up activities, writing techniques, editing process;
• be able to lead Loesje creative writing workshop and editing process individually; 
• get new intercultural experiences and develop their skills,
• develop their understanding of citizenship rights and responsibilities.  

Profile of the participants:

We are looking for 6 participants (1 of them will be the group leader) from Egypt, Germany, Israel, Palestine, Slovenia, and the United Kingdom. The participants should be:

• Motivated to attend the whole training course. 
• Able to communicate in English (spoken and written). 
• Committed to organize three workshops and one exhibition in their home countries following the training course. 
• Preferably youth leaders or otherwise interested to act as multipliers, sharing the knowledge they have gained during the training with young people back home. 
• Motivated to dealing concretely with discrimination, prepared to be active voices and witnesses. 
• Interested in non-profit activities, open to share and invest energy in promoting values of peace building, democracy, human rights and diversity.

How to apply?

Until 31st January 2013 apply on web aplication form: link.

The project and this training course is funded by the Youth in Action Programme and the Anna Lindh Foundation.

The project beginning: Kick-off meeting in Scotland

Association for Culture and Education PiNA from Slovenia,  Loesje e.V. from Germany, Juzoor from Palestine, One Voice from Israel, Xchange Scotland from Scotland and Development NO Boarders from Egypt have started an international project Loesje crosses the Mediterranean.

Although the reality of young people in Palestine, Israel, Egypt, Slovenia, Germany and Scotland appear to be quite different, the youth on both sides of the Mediterranean sea faces similar challenges. They are asking themselves how to overcome general apathy and freely express their opinion. What all have in common is the need to claim once again the public space and use it in order to increase the level of dialogue and democracy, to raise the awareness about the diversity and to contribute to the societal development.

Kick-off meeting quote: “Global society depends on the people that are part of it. Its quality is directly connected to the active participation of all that recreate it. Seeing fragments of efforts to live better on different parts of the world is a reminder of how things could be”. 

The Loesje method of creative writing and poster dissemination is a great way, proved best practice in many EU countries, to encourage individual reflection and collective response of people in public space about relevant political and social topics.

Kick-off meeting quote: “To create a better understanding of the everyday life people experience in this region, not only the one we get from the mainstream media, and to create a living dialogue between the youth in those countries”.

The aim of the Loesje crosses the Mediterranean is through Loesje seminar and training; local Loesje workshops and local exhibition; coaching and Loesje handbook mobilize and empower young people by improving conditions for actors for change to work for enhanced democratization and freedom of expression.

Kick-off meeting quote: “Because I am for the freedom of expression and also because Loesje methods are very simple and can reach to the vast majority of people. Also because Loesje posters make you think and urge you to take an action”.

Seminar part of the kick-off meeting in Scotland was an opportunity for all six project partner organizations  to get to know each other’s methodology. The Kick-off meeting in Scotland itself was as an opportunity to start the project together and build grounds that will enable close cooperation during project implementation and quality project activities. The next step for all partners is to introduce the project and present Loesje methods locally, join motivated youth into local Loesje groups and for them together with other project partners create quality international Loesje methodology training course. Quality project implementation and partner cooperation is highly expected, recognizing on the kick-off meeting that there is no greater motivation than the one that leads towards a more democratic and fulfilling society.

Kick-off meeting quote: “Because Loesje crosses the Mediterranean will help us to grow and spread: as an organisation as a person and as a part of my society”.